Always come prepared to discuss both a strength
and
weakness. "What is your greatest weakness?" is often one of the most dreaded questions of an interview because, quite frankly, we all believe that we cannot really be honest in answering. To address this question, be brief and be comfortable with silence. You should certainly brainstorm examples of weaknesses (yes — there are some good weaknesses for interviews, especially when they’re fairly honest and you can describe how you’re improving).

In other words, whatever you say, don’t say more than you have to, and remember that you don't have to literally share what you believe to be your greatest weakness. Typically this means choosing a
single
weakness and one that isn’t very serious (e.g. “I can be a little too aggressive in setting goals” or “I can be very impatient when I’m working on a project I really believe in”) and too central to the job description you’re interested in.

First, consider what your work style really is. And then consider whether that style is suited for the job and company culture you’re interested in. If you’re an extreme extrovert but the job requires hours of independent, fairly isolated work, you will have a much harder time answering this question than someone whose work style does in fact match the job. This question is really getting at whether your
personality
is a fit for the role and the company so try to answer accordingly.

This question is a combination of a personality-fit and work-style question wrapped up in one. It’s also an opportunity to showcase your interpersonal strengths if you have them and reflect on the way you add to the team in your current job. If you have a brief anecdote about how you were the leader in a time of crisis or pulled the team together during a stressful project, now is the time to tell it.

Be ready to have anecdotes about your experiences for these kinds of
situational interview
questions. They don’t have to be about the most interesting days you’ve had at work; instead, think of situations that have highlighted the fact that you’re mature and capable of working with a variety of people, even if you don’t always see eye-to-eye.

If you think about this in advance, it’s probably easy to come up with an honest answer. What
would
your boss say about you? And why? Think of an anecdote that will indicate why you’re a pleasure to work with, are a team player and have the right skills for this position.

This is a common question when a hiring manager wants to assess whether you will be a good fit, culturally. Be as honest as possible when you respond to this, but make sure it’s clear you’re comfortable working collaboratively and on your own. Companies want to hire people who are fun and easy to work with -- but also those who can manage whatever they need to on their own.